Boring tool



March 31, 1953 w. H. LAVENDER BORING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV.14, 1949 m w y m .n Mm M m 6 V s W m y L m, H w l .W W Nv S vm wwl, xwhh S Nm D v 2U.. .b..h

March 31, 1953 W, LAVENDER 2,633,334

' BORING TOOL Filed Nov. 14, 1949 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1953 w.AH. LAVENDER BORQENG TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 14, 1949 Will/'amH. Lavender INVENTOR.

B-Y @mu W Anomeyx Patented Mar. 31, V1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBORING TOOL William H. Lavender, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 126,990 7 claims. (o1. 255-20)A still further object of the invention is to prol vide an improvedrotary drilling apparatus in conformity with the foregoing objects whichshall have a, simplified and improved mechanism and drilling operation,which may be associated with a pipe casing in an improved manner forcarrying out the desired drilling operation; and wherein there isprovided improved means for operating the rotary drilling apparatus andfor removing material excavated thereby, all housed within a pipe casingsection.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of theinvention which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodimentof which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View showing a preferred embodiment ofthe invention in operative position for excavating a horizontal tunnelbelow a road bed for receiving a conduit or casing member therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical central longitudinal sectional viewthrough a portion of a pipe casing having the invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view takensubstantially upon the plane of the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 andillus.

trating the driving mechanism of the rotary drilling apparatus;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of therdrilling apparatusillustrated in Figure 2 and taken from the left end thereof;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially uponthe plane of section line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a group perspective detail view illustrating a portion ofthe cutter bar and of a cutting tooth forming a part of the invention.

Referring now more specifically to the accomsection I8 and extendsforwardly from the front,

2 panying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar partsthroughout the various views, attention is directed iirst to Figure 1wherein there is disclosed, purely by way of illustrating the principleand manner of applying the inven-v tion, a portion of a road bed I9having a roadv surface I2 thereon, the road having a pair of drainage orother ditches i4 and IS extending parallel to and upon opposite sides ofthe road.

Although the principles of the invention, and the rotary drillingapparatus forming the subject thereof are applicable to a variety ofpurposes for drilling horizontal and other tunnels through the earth,the invention is especially.

adaptable for drilling horizontal transverse tunnels beneath a road bedfor connecting drainage ditches on both sides of the same, or forreceiving pipes or conduits which it is desired to conduct beneath theroad bed. For this purpose, the invention conveniently employs acylindrical or other elongated member I8 which may conveniently comprisea, section of a pipe or conduitv casing, this section being employed todetachably receive the rotary drilling head, the power operating meansfor the same, and a waste material excavating means employed therewith,as set forth hereinafter.

Referring now more specifically to Figure 2, it will ybe understood thatthe casing section I8 which may conveniently comprise a cylindricalconduit or casing section, is open at both of its ends, these beinghereinafter referred to as,- Detachably mounted upon the front end ofthe casing section I8, in any suitable manner such as by fasteningboltsthe front and rear ends.

20 or the like, is a support 22 which may conveniently comprise acylindrical sleeve or theV like and which may be loosely but snuglyreceived in the open front end of the casing section I8 as shown clearlyin Figure 2.

As shown best in Figure 3, this support or sleeve 22 is provided with alongitudinal -slot 24 at its lower side, for a purpose whichjwillbelater apparent.

effect forms a smooth continuation of the exterior surface of the casingsection I8, and which at suitable circumferential intervals is providedwith annular cut out portions 28. Suitable radially extending supportribs 30 are connected,V

with the interior surface of the support sleeve 22, and merge into atubular member 32 which is axially disposed with respect to the casingend thereof as shown in Figure 2. Similar radially disposed bores 34,are received in the ribs 30, and serve to journal and mount radiallyextending drive shafts 36, 38 and 40.

Obviously, any desired number of radial drive shafts could be provided,but for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention ithas been deemed sufficient to illustrate -three of these shafts.

A plurality of forwardly extending supporting, journaling and retainingbrackets 42 are provided which are secured to the support sleeve 22 asby bolts 44, whereby the brackets are retained on the inner surface ofthe support sleeve and extend outwardly therefrom, being provided withupwardly intiu'ned lingers or flanges 46.

A drill head consisting of an annular member 48 is provided with anintegral internal .flange 50 thereon, this flange being received withinthe upturned fingers 46 whereby the latter serve to retain the drillhead in operative position in the assembly as set forth hereinafter.

'What may be termed the rear surface of this drill head 48, is providedwith a plurality of teeth 52 and constitutes thereby a ring gear, thelatter facing rearwardly of the device. The outer surface of the drillhead 48 is preferably substantially -flush with the exterior surfaces ofthe casing section I8 and of the support sleeve meniber 26.` Both theforward and rear ends of the drill head are open in order that materialexcavated by the drill may pass through the head, through the supportmember yaround the radial ribs 36, and longitudinally of the casingsection I8 for discharge from 'the rear end thereof.

integrally formed with or vif desired rigidly attached but vseparatelysecured tothe forward or front lend of the drill head 48, are aplurality of forwardly inclined cutting bars 54, any suitable number ofthese bars being employed, these bars being connected at their forwardend to provide an auger or drill bit 56, which is disposed upon thelongitudinal axis of rotation of the rdrilling head. The bit 56, cutterbars 54 are likewise provided with an axially extending shank 158 whichis journaled in and carried -by the forwardly extending tubular member-32 for rotation therein.

As will be apparent from Figures Zand 6, each of the cutter bars k54 ispreferably provided with a plurality of vlongitudinally spaced slots orrecesses 60, which are adapted to detachably receive the shank portions62 Aof any suitable type of cutting teeth 64. Preferably, the forwardlyinclined cutter bars 54 are disposed radially of the shaft 58 which liesupon lthe axis of rotation of the cutter head, and the plurality ofdrill teeth 64, secured in the retaining slots 68, are preferably spacedsuccessively laterally of the cutter bars in the direction of rotationof the latter.

Rigidly secured to the outer ends `of each of the shafts 36, 38 and 46,is a driving gear 66, which is constantly in mesh with the ring gear 52for driving the latter upon rotation of the driving shafts .36. 38 and46. At their inner extremities, the shafts Y38 and 48 are each provided'with driven gears 68 and 1.6 which constantly mesh witha similargear'i2 iixedly secured to the shaft 36 adjacent its lower end, wherebyrotation of the shaft 36 will kcause operation of the plurality of.driving gears `66 to thereby rotate the drill head. Preferably, theshafts 36, 38 and v46 and the .gear 66 are disposed at equal angularintervals about 'the .circumference Aof the ring `gear the same forrotating the drill head and the cutter elements carried thereby.

At its lower extremity, the shaft 36 is provided with a beveled gear T4which is constantly in mesh with a similar gear 'i6 rigidly carried by apower shaft 16, having its front end journaled as at 80 in a suitablebearing and the radial web members 30. The shaft I8 may convenientlycomprise the central shaft of a spiral `screw conveyor 82, the latterbeing disposed in the lower portion of the casing section I8 andextending into the slotted portion 24 of the support sleeve 22, as willbe apparent from Figures 2 4.

At its rear end, the casing section I8 has suitably ydetachably securedthereto as by fastening 'bolts 84, a rearwardly extending frameconstruction .86 upon which is mounted a suitable prime mover such as aninternal combustion engine, an electric motor or the likeas indicated at88. The latter is operatively connected, as by universal couplings 96and V92, and an intermediate shaft 64, to the rear end 'of the powershaft 18 for rotating the same.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device willnow be readily ap-l parent. When it is desired to excavate a tunnelbeneath a road bed, .a casing section I6 is positioned in the ditch I6and has the vprime mover secured thereto as shown in Figure 1, while thedrill head is secured to the lforward end of the same. Conveniently, thecasing section may .be supported in proper position as by a supportingplatform or the like 96. Upon 'rotation of the power shaft 'I8 by theprime mover 88, the shaftv 36 is rotated, and through the gears 12, 68and 76, the shafts -38 .and 40 are likewise rotated. The three drivinggears 66 carried at the outer ends of the same now Acause rotation ofthe ring gear, and through the latter of the drilling head and of thecutter elements carried thereby. The latter serve to excavate and boreinto the soil, and will thus form a tunnel therein. The entireapparatus, consisting of the casing section I8 and of theinstrumentalities detachably secured thereto and carried thereby, maythen be advanced into the tunnel so formed by any desired means. .As thedevice is advanced, it will be evident that the excavating screw 82 willremove the material excavated by the cutter or drill head longitudinallyof the casing .section of the members carried thereby, whereby thismaterial will be discharged from the .rear end of the device.

It is .evident that .although the .device has .been

illustrated as employed for drilling a .horizontal tunnel beneath a roadbed, the same is adapted for many other purposes, a very importantfeature of this construction being the ease with which .the drillinghead, the power plant, the driving connection .between the same and theexcavating means .may be detachably mounted .upon a conventional casingsection to perform the complete drilling apparatus.

yFrom the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to be-unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled 4in the art after a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, butall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, .fallingwithin the scope of the for .imparting aan evenly distributed thrust toappended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front andrear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of saidcasing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on saidsupport and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuation ofthat of the casing and having cutting means, driving means operativelyconnected to said drill head and extending through said casing, aconveyor surrounding said driving means and extending through saidcasing for removing material from said drill head.

2. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front andrear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of saidcasing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on saidsupport and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuaf tionof that of the casing and having cutting means, a driving meansoperatively connected to said drill head and extending through saidcasing, a conveyor extending through said casing for removing materialfrom said drill head, said cutting means comprising a plurality of barsangularly and forwardly inclined from said drill head, a plurality ofcutting teeth mounted on each bar.

3. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a casing having open front andrear ends, a support detachably secured upon the front end of saidcasing and within the interior thereof, a drill head journaled on saidsupport and having an exterior surface forming a smooth continuation ofthat of the casing and having cutting means, a driving means operativelyconnected to said drill head and extending through said casing, aconveyor extending through said casing for removing material from saiddrill head, said cut- A ting means comprising a plurality of barsangularly and forwardly inclined from said drill head, a plurality ofcutting teeth mounted on each bar, said teeth being spacedlongitudinally and laterally of said bar.

4. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, acylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ringgear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly ofsaid drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, aplurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, andhaving driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing withsaid ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaftoperatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head beingjournaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guidingand retaining said drill head on said support.

5. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, acylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ringgear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly ofsaid drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, aplurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, andhaving driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing withsaid ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaftoperatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head beingjournaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guidingand retaining said drill head on said support, means for mounting saidsupport on the open end of a casing.

6. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, acylindrical drill head `lournaled upon said support and having a ringgear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly ofsaid drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, aplurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, andhaving driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing withsaid ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaftoperatively connected to said driven gears, said drill head beingjournaled upon the exterior surface of said support, means for guidingand retaining said drill head on said support, means for mounting saidsupport on the open end of a casing, means for removing through saidcasing the material cut by said drill head.

'7. A rotary drilling apparatus comprising a hollow support, acylindrical drill head journaled upon said support and having a ringgear at its rear edge, a plurality of cutter bars extending forwardly ofsaid drill head and rigidly secured at the axis of rotation thereof, aplurality of radial drive shafts journaled solely in said support, andhaving driving and driven gears thereon, said driving gears meshing withsaid ring gear at circumferentially spaced positions, a power shaftoperatively connected to said driven gears, said cutter bars having eacha pluralty of longitudinally and laterally spaced apertures, cuttingteeth received in said apertures.

WILLIAM H. LAVENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,244 Grover Jan. 6, 1891537,899 Mitchell Apr. 23, 1895 1,532,243 Hebsacker Apr. 7, 19251,943,103 Benson Jan. 9, 1934 2,529,246 Detrick Nov. 7, 1950

